By Steve Brawner, © 2026 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack spoke in the House of Representatives on Jan. 22 in support of a $1.2 trillion spending package he had helped create. His voice cracked twice, but only briefly and for a very good reason. Four days earlier, he had lost his wife.

Terri Womack, his wife of 41 years, had died on Jan. 18 at age 68.

The spending package passed the House with bipartisan support, 341-88. It would provide funding for the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

Womack played a pivotal role with the first two agencies. He chairs the powerful House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. As one of 12 subcommittee chairmen, he is one of the most influential members of the House of Representatives in determining how the government spends taxpayer money.

At the same time he was trying to avoid another government shutdown in an often-fractured Congress, he was being a husband and a father. Those jobs can be tougher, especially lately.

Terri Womack died at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville after what his office called only a “brief illness.” Announcing her death on the X social media platform, Womack said he took comfort by the fact that she was “no longer suffering in pain.”

A DeWitt native, she had worked more than 35 years for various courts in northwest Arkansas. She last worked as a circuit court clerk before retiring in 2019. She was the mother of three sons and a grandmother of four grandchildren.

Her illness in November had forced Womack to miss House votes for the first time in his almost 15-year career. He announced on Nov. 17 that he would be absent because he was “dealing with a family member’s serious medical issue that requires my presence at home.” He did not elaborate at the time.

In addition to his wife’s illness, Womack’s son, James Womack, was granted clemency by President Trump on Jan. 15 while serving an eight-year federal prison sentence for methamphetamine distribution. He had been sentenced in May 2024.

Following Trump’s action, Womack released a statement expressing his gratitude and saying the grant of clemency allowed his son to be with the family “during a profoundly difficult time.” He said he would always cherish Trump phoning Terri and her care team. 

Four days after losing his wife, Womack gave his six-minute speech on the House floor. The former mayor of Rogers and retired Arkansas Army National Guard colonel twice became emotional but, as noted previously, only briefly. 

The first was at the beginning, when he referenced earlier remarks by Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-South Carolina. Clyburn, the top Democrat on Womack’s subcommittee, called Womack his partner and praised him for continuing his work on the legislation even as he had stayed by his wife’s side. He noted he had lost his own wife, Emily, who died six years ago at age 80. 

Womack and Clyburn come from opposing political parties. Clyburn is widely credited with saving former President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign by endorsing him before the South Carolina primary. 

Nevertheless, Womack was moved by Clyburn’s words.

“Though we sometimes differ in our political beliefs, friendship transcends politics,” he said. “And Jim, your words this morning on the floor inspire me, and I’m grateful.” 

The last words were kind of tough for him to get out. Then, quickly composing himself, Womack moved into the meat of the speech focusing on the aforementioned legislation. He praised it for its various aspects, including adding air traffic controllers and investing more than $64 billion in highways. The military part of the package provides service members a pay raise.

He again showed some emotion at the end, but again only briefly, when he noted that he was experiencing “a terrible personal hardship, the loss of my wife of over 41 years.” Again, he quickly composed himself, saying his presence in the House was “indicative of the importance of completing the work on behalf of the American people.” Then he urged a yes vote on the legislation.

Politics is hard. Life, however, can be “profoundly difficult,” as Womack noted. Perhaps as we appreciate that fact, we can let friendship transcend politics more often.

Steve Brawner’s column is syndicated to 21 outlets in Arkansas. Email him at brawnersteve@mac.com.